Dear KnitBits® Subscribers,

The freedom of SHRUGS
We are seeing many interpretations of the cozy cocoon-like comfort that a shrug provides. It's a great layering option that is easy to take off and put back on as the weather changes. In more temperate climates it is the perfect outerwear garment for this winter. For the cooler climates it is a superb layering piece. A few steps away from a poncho, this sophisticated little item is an easy option for new knitters who want a slight challenge but aren't ready to knit a constructed cardigan. Don't be so concerned about fit, just let the fabric drape.

Our 2 free patterns today are the Rena and Venus Shrugs.

Rena is a Softy™ shrug knit in one piece in a simple broken rib stitch and then seamed at the underarm. It couldn't be easier to knit.

Venus is a Chinchilla™ shrug with a voluminous ribbed Berroco Glace™ lapel/collar surrounding it.

The dolman sleeve aspect of these shrugs allows you to wear several layers without binding at the armhole, thus allowing free movement and a buffer of insulating air for warmth. Because these shrugs have a modified sleeve, you can wear a shoulder bag if you choose. You can also layer it under most coats.

The Deconstruction of the Sweater
As a teenager it was my dream to make beautiful handknit sweaters for my wardrobe. Fairisles, Arans, and Guernsies, both pullovers and cardigans, were among the sweaters on my wish list. Back in the 60's, knitted coats, fringed shawls and ponchos became fashionable. Then after a decade of hippy dressing, we abandoned it for a more conservative career dressing aesthetic. With the arrival of the new millennium and the advent of a new generation of yarns and fibers, knitters began to experiment with simple forms and going back to the basic rectangle. The longtime knitter and the new knitter alike could all join in on the scarf craze. Perhaps it was the Pashmina explosion that opened a Pandora's box of inspiration. We began to understand how to wrap and tie a scarf. This was something that in the past only European and Asian women understood. American women began to wear the scarf as an accessory and were delighted to discover how flattering it could be.

We also learned that knitted fabrics had inherent drape and stretch that could enhance the body in other, more deconstructed ways. Fashion knitters experimented with shawls, ponchos, cardi-wraps and shrugs and Berroco was there with the yarns and designs for these trends. We understood that a garment need not be constructed to actually fit the body, but rather that the fabric, due to its stretch and drape, could wrap and flatter the form. Simple, rectangular shapes could be draped either symmetrically or asymmetrically to create modern knit dressing. No longer was the set in sleeve cap and side seam shaping the only means of creating a flattering fit. We adorned the scarf or fastened the shawl or cardi-wrap with a kilt pin, bold broach or cabbage rose.

Today's women with all our fit issues have come to appreciate the drape and freedom of knitted fabric in a way that has allowed us to reinvent the knitted coverup. Have a look at our web gallery of shrugs, ponchos and cardi-wraps to see how this genre has evolved over the past few years.



Karyn from Long Island wrote in to say: "I bought 3 balls of Foliage™ to knit a scarf. I would like to fringe it but I also want to make it as long as possible before I bind off. How will I know when to bind off and still have enough yarn to make fringe?"

Karyn, here's a tip for ensuring that you will have enough yarn to fringe your scarf. After knitting several inches, cut lengths of yarn to fringe the cast on edge. Then cut the same amount and same length of fringe and set it aside to fringe the bound off edge. Continue to knit until you have enough yarn left to wrap around the width of your knitting at least 3 times. This should be enough for a bind off row.